Multiple purpose ammunition



Nov. 8, 1966 A. J. GRANDY MULTIPLE PURPOSE AMMUNITION Filed June 3. 1965ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,283,719 MULTIPLE PURPOSE AMMUNITIONAndrew J. Grandy, North Hills, Pa., assignor to the United States ofAmerica as represented by the Secretary of the Arm y Filed June 3, 1965,Ser. No. 461,209

4 Claims. (Cl. 102-40) The invention described herein may bemanufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposeswithout the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a round of ammunition having multiple purposecapabilities, and particularly to a round of ammunition having amultiple range capability with a fixed weight missile, or asubstantially fixed range carpability with varying weight missiles.

Multiple purpose ammunition capable of being fired from a single Weaponsystem is very desirable. A typical manifestation of this desire wouldbe a single tracer cartridge having the capability of being fired todiflerent ranges from a single barrel weapon. This typical desire is notabstract but very real since major weapon systems are extant which havemulti-range capability, selectivity of the desired range and trajectorybased on an estimation derived from firing a spotter-tracer projectileinto the target. Heretofore, to accommodate this range-trajectoryestimation a multiplicity of spotter-tracer cartridges were required.More specifically, if the major weapon system had a long and a shortrange capability at least two different tracer cartridges displayinglike long and short range capabilities had to be employed. The use oftwo different spotter-tracer cartridges necessarily demanded twodifferent launching means. Needless to say this weapon-spottertracersystem combination was generally inefficient. The Word went out todevelop a better spotter-tracer system. Hence, the present invention wasconceived.

There are other conceivable applications for multiple purposeammunition. For example, an infantryman at times has need for signallingmeans (e.g. a flare). A flare launcher plus flare cartridges necessarilymeans additional weight to be carried. Single caliber rounds ofammunition having dual purposes and capable of being launched from thesame Weapon would be highly desirable to this infantryman. That is, hewould carry a supply of single sized ammunition, one group being adaptedto fire a flare missile and the other the typical projectile. However,in this illustration and in readily ascertainable others, the missileweights vary and range capability accordingly varies. The problem is tomaintain range while varying the missile weight. The present inventionsatisfies this problem.

Multiple purpose ammunition could also be used in mortar systems wherevariable range single rounds would conceivably be desirable; shotgunammunition where constant range with varying missile weights isdesirable; and many other applications which one skilled in theammunition art would readily recognize.

As tacitly indicated above there are rounds of single caliber ammunitionwhich are used for multiple purposes. Typical of this are shotgun roundswhich use light weight shot pellets or a rifled slug, both type ofrounds fired from a single gun. However, the heavier slug has a greaterrange than the lighter shot pellets. In the above tracer cartridgeillustration it was pointed out that a long range tracer round wouldrequire a larger caliber round and a different launcher than thatrequired for the short range spotter-tracer round.

Varying the application or function of any round of ammunition resultsin many disadvantages of which those mentioned above are typical. Withuse in an appropriately designed weapon the present inventive round 'ofammunition avoids many of these inherent disadvantages.

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Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a roundof ammunition having multiple purpose capabilities characterized bymultiple range capability with a fixed weight missile, or asubstantially fixed range capability with varying weight missiles.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a round ofammunition having multiple purpose capabilities which round may belaunched in accord with all or some of its capabilities from a singlebarrel weapon system or from different weapon systems for each of therounds capabilities.

It is still an object of the present invention to provide a round ofammunition having multiple purpose capabilities, which round ischaracterized by a plurality of separate propellant compartments andseparate priming means for each propellant wherein one or a multiplicityof propellants may be selectively initiated to propel a given missile toa desirable range.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description thereof;consideration being given also to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view, partly in cross-section, of the round ofammunition of the present invention illustrating one embodiment thereof,showing in phantom outline a portion of a weapon system in which thepresent invention may be used;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end view of FIG. 1 showing further details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the inventive round showing another embodimentthereof;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG, 7 is a view taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6.

In accordance with the present invention and referring to the drawingsin which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, 10refers generally to a round of ammunition having a casing 12 in which aprojectile or missile 14 is placed. In the embodiment of this inventionillustrated in FIG. 1 the missile 14 is a fin-stabilized projectile.However, the missile may take any form or shape required for a desiredapplication. To the rear of the missile 14 and within the casing 12 is apropellant chamber 16. The propellant chamber 16 is fixed to the insidewall of the casing 12 and contains a plurality of compartments 18, 18a,18b, 18c and 18d (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 6) containing a propellant 20 inan amount and of a nature suitable to a particular use. In FIG. 1 thecompartments 18 and 18a are arranged concentrically in fixedrelationship to each other with their common axis coaxial with that ofthe round 10. Although FIG. 1 shows two concentric compartments, thenumber thereof are not limited to two. Three and more compartments couldbe arranged as one skilled in the munitions art could readily see. FIGS.6 and 7 show the compartments 18b, 18c and 18d arranged longitudinallyaxially with respect to the round 10, and in fixed space relationshipwith each other with their respective axes parallel to each other butnot necessarily in the same plane. The number of compartments of FIG. 3can be increased in number and accordingly arranged to meet a desiredapplication.

Referring to FIG, 1 the compartments 18 and 18a have open forward endsand closed rear-ward ends. The rearward closed ends of the compartments18 and 18a form the rearward end 22 of the propellant chamber 16 which,in this embodiment, is positioned in the same plane with the flange 24of the round 10 to form the rearward end of the round 10.

The rearward end 22 of the propellant chamber 16 contains two annulargrooves 26 and 26a concentrically range pin as the situation calls for.

fixed with respect to each other and circumferentially alignedrespectively with compartments 18 and 18a. The number of grooves 26 and26a will be determined by the number of Compartments used. The annulargrooves 26b, 26c, and 26d of the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 arearranged so that the axes of the compartments 18b, 18c, and 18dintersect a point on the center portion of one each of the respectivegrooves. The function of the grooves will be come apparent further on inthe course of this description.

' A primer 28 operatively communicates with each of the propellants 20in each of the compartments 18, 18ad. The primers 28 are fixed to therearward end 22 of the propellant chamber 16 and are recessed in theannular grooves 26, and 26a-d. In the embodiments illustrated theprimers 28 are percussion type primers. Other type primers such aselectrical primers may be used.

The compartments 18, etc. are suitably separated from each other toinsure that only one propellant 20 of one compartment will ignite whenthe primer 28 communicating with that propellant is initiated. To insurethat reverse flow of ignited propellant gases will not cause theremaining unignited propellant to ignite the open forward ends of thecompartments 18, 18a-d, are enclosed by a sealing disc 30 which isimpermeable to the ignited propellant gases. The disc 30 is constructedto conform to the annular area of the respective compartments, Thematerial used for the disc 30, although impermeable to reverse flow ofpropellant gases, is of such a nature so as not to offer any substantialresistance to the initial propellant 20 ignition.

As shown in phantom outline in FIG. 1 the round is in a single barrel 32Weapon which has a multiple firing pin mechanism 34. For illustrationpurposes it will be assumed that the round 10 has a long range and ashort range capability. The propellant in the compartment 18, willprovide the energy for the long range firing while the propellant 20 inthe compartment 18a will provide the short range energy. Accordingly,the weapon contains an annular firing pin for long range firing and acenter firing pin 38 for short range firing. Assuming further that thechoice of firing pin is selectable, the operator of the weapon selectsthe long or short In this illustration the desire is for a long rangefiring. The operator selects long range and actuates the long rangeannular firing pin 36 which in turn strikes the primer 28 situated ingroove 26. The primer 28 in turn initiates ignition of the propellant 20which subsequently provides the energy necessary for firing theprojectile 14. This long-short range firing would find application withtracer cartridge used with multiple range major weapon systems where thetrajectory and range of the major weapon payload is determined by thatof the tracer projectile.

As can be readily understood the grooves 26, 2611-41 will accommodate amultiplicity of concentric annular firing pins. The arrangement willeliminate an alignment problem when incorporating the round 10 into aweapon barrel.

Other embodiments of the present invention could be readily developed bythose skilled in this particular art. As one example, it can beunderstood that the propellant chamber 16 could be adapted so thateither primer 28 would cause the ignition of both propellant charges 20by simply lbleeding substantially simultaneously the primer flash intoboth chambers 18 and 18a. For short range firing the center primer 28would be used to fire the propellant in chamber 18a only. For long rangecapability the annular primer 28 would initiate the propellants in bothchambers 18 and 18a; thus obtaining the combined energy effect of thepropellant in each chamber.

While the invention has been described with reference to a particularexample and application thereof which give satisfactory results, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains, after understanding the invention, that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, and it is my intention, therefore, in the appended claimsto cover all such changes and modifications.

I claim:

1. A round of ammunition having multiple range capability including acartridge case having forward and rearward ends;

a single projectile in the forward end of said cartridge case andforming a forward end closure therefor;

a propellant chamber in the rearward end of said cartridge case, saidpropellant chamber having a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinallyextending compartments, each of said compartments having a forward endand a rearward end;

a propellant charge in each of said compartments; and

a primer in each of said compartment rearward ends.

2. A round of ammunition having a multiple range capability including acartridge case having forward and rearward ends;

a projectile in said cartridge case;

a propellant chamber in said cartridge case and rearwardly of saidprojectile, said propellant chamber having a plurality of separatedcompartments concentric with each other and coaxial with said cartridgecase;

a propellant charge in each of said compartments and a primer in each ofsaid compartment rearward ends adapted to operatively communicate withthe propellant charges within the respective compartments.

3. A round of ammunition having multiple range capability including acartridge case having forward and rearward ends;

a projectile in said cartridge case;

a propellant chamber in said cartridge case and rearwardly of saidprojectile, said propellant chamber having a forward end and a rearwardend, said propellant chamber rearward end cooperating with saidcartridge case rearward end to form an enclosure therefor, saidpropellant chamber having a plurality of separated concentriccompartments coaxial with said cartridge case, said propellant chamberrearward end defining a plurality of annular grooves one such groove foreach of said compartments and in alignment therewith;

a propellant charge in each of said compartments;

a primer in each of said grooves adapted to operatively communicate withthe propellant charges within the respective compartments.

4. A round as set forth in claim 3 in which each of.

said compartments includes a frangible disc over the forward endthereof, said disc being so constructed and arranged that it willrupture upon detonation of the propellant charge contained within itsrespective compartment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 634,826 10/ 1899Masini 102.38

949,063 2/ 1910 Dorn 10238 FOREIGN PATENTS 862,334 11/1940 France.

208,577 3/ 1909 Germany.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. STAHL, Examiner.

1. A ROUND OF AMMUNITION HAVING MULTIPLE RANGE CAPABILITY INCLUDING ACARTRIDGE CASE HAVING FORWARD AND REARWARD ENDS; A SINGLE PROJECTILE INTHE FORWARD END OF SAID CARTRIDGE CASE AND FORMING A FORWARD END CLOSURETHEREFOR; A PROPELLANT CHAMBER IN THE REARWARD END OF SAID CARTRIDGECASE, SAID PROPELLANT CHAMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF LATERALLY SPACEDLONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING COMPARTMENTS, EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS HAVINGA FORWARD END AND A REARWARD END; A PROPELLANT CHARGE IN EACH OF SAIDCOMPARTMENTS; AND A PRIMER IN EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENT REARWARD ENDS.